Dryer operator vs extra hand

The differences between dryer operators and extra hands can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dryer operator has an average salary of $36,131, which is higher than the $29,346 average annual salary of an extra hand.

The top three skills for a dryer operator include CIP, GMP and minor maintenance. The most important skills for an extra hand are rig, , and .

Dryer operator vs extra hand overview

	Dryer Operator	Extra Hand
Yearly salary	$36,131	$29,346
Hourly rate	$17.37	$14.11
Growth rate	4%	6%
Number of jobs	62,758	4,194
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	41	40
Years of experience	-	-

Dryer operator vs extra hand salary

Dryer operators and extra hands have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Dryer Operator	Extra Hand
Average salary	$36,131	$29,346
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $44,000	Between $24,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	Billings, MT	-
Highest paying state	Vermont	-
Best paying company	Dairy Farmers of America	-
Best paying industry	Agriculture	-

Differences between dryer operator and extra hand education

There are a few differences between a dryer operator and an extra hand in terms of educational background:

	Dryer Operator	Extra Hand
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Business	Accounting
Most common college	-	-

Dryer operator vs extra hand demographics

Here are the differences between dryer operators' and extra hands' demographics:

	Dryer Operator	Extra Hand
Average age	41	40
Gender ratio	Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%	Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 8.4% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%	Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	5%

Differences between dryer operator and extra hand duties and responsibilities

Dryer operator example responsibilities.

Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
Involve in cleanup for USDA inspections.
Move to the assembly department building electrical panels, installing electrical panels, installing various electrical devices on new centrifuges.
Comply with OSHA when writing permits, LOTO, confine space, and when following all procedures.
Make equipment rounds, write safe work permits, and LOTO on relate equipment to be work.
Overlook daily operations of single/twin screw extruders and packaging of finish product.

Extra hand example responsibilities.

Manage and conduct the baling, hauling, advertising, and selling of 2000 straw square bales a year from 2002-2006.
Operate and maintain farm equipment such as tractors, mowers, balers, bobcats and off road dump trucks.
Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
Develop priority setting and organization skills.

Dryer operator vs extra hand skills

Common dryer operator skills

CIP, 13%
GMP, 13%
Minor Maintenance, 7%
Safety Rules, 7%
OSHA, 7%
FDA, 6%

Common extra hand skills

Rig, 100%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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